Dengue fever returns to Pakistan every monsoon season, and with it comes a familiar question: which dengue test do you need, and what will it cost? The answer depends on timing. A test that works well in the first days of fever is not the same test a doctor may ask for a week later, and the price changes with the test type, the method used, and the laboratory you choose.
This comparison gathers dengue test prices from the major laboratories’ own price lists on All Lab Tests, as listed in November 2026. Prices may vary by branch or city, so confirm the current rate with the laboratory before you visit. Where a laboratory lists the same kind of test under different names or methods, each entry is shown separately, exactly as it appears on the list, so you can compare like with like.
Dengue NS1 Antigen Prices
The NS1 antigen test looks for a protein produced by the dengue virus early in the illness. It is the test most often used in the first days of fever. Prices below are for NS1-type tests as named on each laboratory’s list.
| Lab | Test (as listed) | Price (PKR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chughtai Lab | Dengue NS1 Antigen | 3,450 | Official Chughtai Lab rate; the All Lab Tests list shows PKR 3,000, so the official rate is used here (see note below). |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | Dengue NS1 Antigen | 850 | Lowest NS1 antigen price in this comparison. |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | Dengue NS1 Antigen By Elisa | 1,800 | ELISA method, as listed. |
| Dow Lab | Dengue Antigen | 1,480 | Listed as “Dengue Antigen”, not as NS1. |
| Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory | Dengue Ns1 by ELISA | 1,800 | ELISA method, as listed. |
| Khan Lab | Dengue NS1 ICT | 1,200 | ICT (rapid) method, as listed. |
| Khan Lab | Dengue Ns1 by ELISA | 2,200 | ELISA method, as listed. |
| Aga Khan University Hospital | — | Price not publicly listed — confirm with the hospital | Individual test prices are not published publicly by AKUH. |
Note on the Chughtai Lab NS1 price: The All Lab Tests Chughtai list shows Dengue NS1 Antigen at PKR 3,000, but Chughtai Lab’s own official test search lists Dengue NS1 Antigen (code 4189) at PKR 3,450. Following the same rule as our CBC price comparison, the official rate of PKR 3,450 is used in the table above. The same applies to the antibody tests: the All Lab Tests Chughtai list shows Dengue Virus IgG at PKR 3,000 and Dengue Virus IgM at PKR 800, but Chughtai Lab’s own official test pages list each at PKR 3,450, so the official rates of PKR 3,450 are used in the antibody table below.
Dengue IgG and IgM Antibody Prices
IgM and IgG are antibodies your body makes in response to dengue infection. They usually appear later than the NS1 protein, so these tests are more often used after the first few days of fever, or to check for a past infection. Each entry below is shown under its own listed name.
| Lab | Test (as listed) | Price (PKR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chughtai Lab | Dengue Virus IgG | 3,450 | Official rate; list shows PKR 3,000 (see note above). |
| Chughtai Lab | Dengue Virus IgM | 3,450 | Official rate; list shows PKR 800 (see note above). |
| Dr. Essa Laboratory | Dengue Antibody | 2,300 | Listed as a single antibody test; not split into IgG and IgM on the list. |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | Dengue IgG Ab by ELISA | 1,800 | ELISA method, as listed. |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | Dengue IgM Ab by ELISA | 1,800 | ELISA method, as listed. |
| Dow Lab | Dengue Virus (LGG/LGM) | 1,100 | Combined IgG/IgM entry, as listed (spelling as on the list). |
| Dow Lab | Dengue Virus LGM (Elisa) | 1,180 | As listed. |
| Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory | Dengue (Igg) | 1,500 | As listed. |
| Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory | Dengue (Igm) | 1,500 | As listed. |
| Khan Lab | Dengue IgG Antibody | 1,500 | As listed. |
| Khan Lab | Dengue IgM Antibody | 1,500 | As listed. |
| Khan Lab | Dengue Virus ICT (IgG & IgM) | 920 | Combined rapid test, as listed. |
| Aga Khan University Hospital | — | Price not publicly listed — confirm with the hospital | Individual test prices are not published publicly by AKUH. |
Dengue PCR Prices
PCR testing detects the genetic material (RNA) of the dengue virus. It is a different kind of test from NS1 antigen and antibody tests, and it is priced separately wherever it is listed.
| Lab | Test (as listed) | Price (PKR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chughtai Lab | Dengue RNA by PCR | 6,400 | As listed. |
| Dow Lab | Dengue Virus by PCR | 4,600 | Lowest PCR price in this comparison. |
| Alnoor Diagnostic Centre | Dengue RNA by PCR | 6,500 | Only dengue test found on the Alnoor list; no NS1, IgG or IgM entry was listed. |
| Aga Khan University Hospital | — | Price not publicly listed — confirm with the hospital | Individual test prices are not published publicly by AKUH. |
Combined Dengue Panels Listed by Labs
Some laboratories also list combined dengue entries. These are shown separately because they are not single tests, and their prices should not be compared directly with a single NS1 or antibody test.
| Lab | Test (as listed) | Price (PKR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chughtai Lab | Dengue Profile | 9,800 | Profile/bundle entry, as listed. |
| Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC) | Dengue ELISA (NS1, IgM, IgG) | 5,000 | Combined ELISA panel, as listed. |
Price Summary
The summary below uses only the prices in the tables above.
- NS1 antigen: PKR 850 (IDC) to PKR 3,450 (Chughtai Lab, official rate). NS1 tests by ELISA or ICT methods range from PKR 1,200 to PKR 2,200.
- IgG antibodies: PKR 1,500 to PKR 3,450.
- IgM antibodies: PKR 1,500 to PKR 3,450.
- Dengue PCR: PKR 4,600 to PKR 6,500.
- Combined panels: PKR 5,000 to PKR 9,800.
- Cheapest single dengue test in the tables: Islamabad Diagnostic Centre’s (IDC) Dengue NS1 Antigen at PKR 850, followed by Khan Lab’s Dengue Virus ICT (IgG & IgM) at PKR 920.
No NS1, IgG or IgM entry was found on the Alnoor Diagnostic Centre list, and no separate dengue entry was found for Aga Khan University Hospital, whose individual prices are not publicly listed. Those laboratories are therefore not given a number in the tables above.
What Is a Dengue Test, and When Do Doctors Order It?
Dengue is a viral infection spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Doctors often consider dengue testing when a person has fever together with symptoms such as severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, or a skin rash, especially during or after the rainy season when mosquitoes are more common. This is general information only; only a doctor who examines you can decide whether testing is needed.
Timing matters, and this is where the different tests fit in. In plain words: the NS1 antigen test is most useful in the first days of fever, while the virus protein is still present in the blood. As the illness goes on, the body starts to make antibodies, so IgM and then IgG tests become more useful later in the illness, and IgG can also show a past dengue infection. That is why a doctor may ask for NS1 early on and an antibody test later, or more than one type of test. A negative result on one test does not always rule out dengue, which is another reason test choice and timing are left to the doctor.
CBC and Platelet Monitoring in Dengue
Alongside a dengue-specific test, doctors commonly ask for a complete blood count (CBC) during dengue illness, repeated over several days, to watch the platelet count and white blood cell count. A falling platelet count or a rising haematocrit can be important warning signals for the treating doctor, and the CBC is therefore one of the most repeated tests in dengue care. For a full laboratory-by-laboratory comparison of CBC prices, see our CBC test price comparison.
Some laboratories also list dengue-specific CBC entries: Chughtai Lab lists “CBC Blood C/E for Dengue Patients” at PKR 90, and Dr. Essa Laboratory lists “CBC for Dengue (Punjab)” at PKR 100. These are shown here only as listed; confirm with the laboratory what each entry includes before booking.
Warning Signs in Dengue: See a Doctor Immediately
The following is general information, not medical advice for any individual. Seek medical care immediately, or go to an emergency department, if you or someone you are caring for develops severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in vomit or stool, unusual tiredness or restlessness, difficulty breathing, or a sudden drop in temperature with cold, clammy skin. Do not wait for a laboratory result before seeking care if warning signs appear, and do not try to judge the seriousness of dengue from a single platelet count on your own.
How to Prepare for a Dengue Test
Preparation for dengue blood tests is usually simple, and this is general information only. No special diet or fasting is normally required, but always follow the instructions given by your doctor or the laboratory, because requirements can differ by test and by laboratory. Bring your doctor’s test slip or prescription, a form of identification, and any previous dengue or CBC reports if you have them, so results can be compared. If you are feeling unwell, consider having someone accompany you, and tell the sample collector about any medicines you take. Home sample collection is offered by some laboratories; ask the laboratory whether it is available in your area and whether it carries an extra charge, as that is not included in the prices above.
Normal and Reference Ranges: A General Guide
Dengue test results are usually reported in general terms rather than as a single number. As a general reference only: an NS1 antigen result is commonly reported as reactive (positive) or non-reactive (negative); IgG and IgM antibody results are likewise commonly reported as reactive or non-reactive, sometimes with a numeric value and a cut-off set by the laboratory; and a PCR result is commonly reported as detected or not detected. The exact wording, cut-offs and methods vary by laboratory, so the reference information printed on your own report is the one that applies to you.
For the CBC tests often done alongside dengue testing, a platelet count of roughly 150,000 to 450,000 per microlitre is commonly quoted as a general adult reference range, but this varies by laboratory, age and method, and a single value is never interpreted on its own. Your doctor interprets all results together with your symptoms, examination and the stage of your illness, so always discuss your report with your doctor rather than drawing conclusions from the numbers alone.
How to Get Your Dengue Test Report Online
Most major laboratories in Pakistan now offer online reports through their websites or patient portals. You usually need the receipt number, MR number or mobile number used at the time of sample collection, and the report is downloaded as a PDF or viewed on the laboratory’s portal. The following All Lab Tests pages explain how to access reports for each laboratory: Chughtai Lab online report, Dr. Essa Lab online report, IDC online report, Dow Lab online report, Ibn-E-Sina online report, Alnoor online report, and Aga Khan Lab online report. Report availability time is not stated here because it varies by test, laboratory and workload; if a report is delayed, contact the laboratory with your receipt details.
How to Choose a Laboratory for a Dengue Test
No single laboratory is declared best here, because the right choice depends on your situation. Useful factors to weigh are: whether the laboratory offers the exact test your doctor asked for (NS1, IgG/IgM, PCR or a combination); the price of that exact test; how close the branch or collection point is, or whether home collection is available; how you will receive the report and how quickly the laboratory says it will be ready; and whether your doctor has a preference, since some doctors prefer to follow results from the same laboratory over time. A lower price alone is not a reason to choose a different test from the one your doctor ordered, and a higher price does not by itself mean a better result. Confirm the test name, price and sample requirements with the laboratory before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which dengue test is used in the first days of fever?
NS1 antigen testing is generally used in the first days of fever, because the NS1 protein is present early in the illness. Later in the illness, antibody tests (IgM and IgG) become more useful. Your doctor decides which test fits the day of your illness.
What is the difference between NS1, IgG and IgM tests?
NS1 detects a protein from the dengue virus itself, early in the illness. IgM and IgG detect antibodies your body produces in response to the infection, which appear later. IgM is more often linked with a recent infection, while IgG can also reflect a past infection. The tests are therefore not interchangeable, and they are priced separately.
Do I also need a CBC test with a dengue test?
Doctors commonly order a CBC along with dengue testing to monitor platelet and white blood cell counts over the course of the illness. Our CBC price comparison lists CBC prices at the same major laboratories.
Why do dengue test prices differ so much between laboratories?
Prices differ because the tests themselves differ: NS1, antibody and PCR tests use different methods and materials, and even the same kind of test can be done by rapid (ICT) or ELISA methods at different prices. Branch, city and collection charges can also affect the total you pay.
Can a single negative dengue test rule out dengue?
Not always. A test done too early or too late for that test type can miss the infection, which is why doctors may repeat a test or order a different type. If fever continues or warning signs appear, seek medical care promptly rather than relying on one result.
Full Laboratory Price Lists
For the complete test lists used in this comparison, see: Chughtai Lab test list, Dr. Essa Lab test list, IDC test list, Dow Lab test list, Ibn-E-Sina Clinical Laboratory test list, Alnoor Diagnostic Centre test list, and Khan Lab test list.
All Lab Tests is an independent price-comparison website and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of the laboratories named above. Prices were taken from each laboratory’s price list on this site, as listed in November 2026, except for the Chughtai Lab NS1 price, where the official Chughtai Lab rate is used and the difference is noted above. Prices may vary by branch or city and can change without notice, so confirm the current price before booking. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice; for diagnosis, treatment or interpretation of any test result, consult a qualified doctor.
